Niko! Now that I watch this, I can hear elements of his writing style- certain patterns that he incorporates into our shows. We're lucky to have him as our battery instructor (:
sister had him as an instructor at ocean view high school. Gave me my first pair of drumsticks. oh yeah and i remember he broke a light with the stick at the end.
I wish you the best of luck. it's always good to see more drummers in the world. And niko is my bro's drum instructor as our school. Best guy out there! You'd be soooo happy to have him as an instructor
This is an incredible solo! Definitely one of my favorites of all-time. What happened to the stick at the end, he hit up, but you don't see it come down?
Wow, I definitely think that he should have been the winner. I just think he has more exactitude. I like the super clean stroke combinations he does. I don't like how Ivan did so many buzz rolls. I personally do not like buzz rolls. And that ending, (and the part where he hit like behind himself and under his leg) that was so sick!!!!!
Fucking sweet!!! Dude, I can't wait for Atlanta, I'm gonna be watching the Blue Devils, and a ton of other drum corps in July in August, damn, I love the finish!
Actually, I think he got 3rd or something. If I remember correctly, his stick tick at the end docked him points (hello ceiling) and helped Pacheco take the lead.
yea the judge thought he was too open on that part, but he was actually opening it up on purpose in order to change up the rudiments without playing a check before it.
Awesome. Totally awesome. Not only should he have gotten 1st, I would put this ahead of all the other solos I've seen online (Casey Brohard, Ivan Pacheco, Jeff Queen, etc.)
he was my teacher too, awesome guy and an amazing drummer. close ur eyes when u listen to this solo, the sound quality is ridiculous and often overlooked
i think they are wearing special shirts, that have clearing near their under shoulder (armpit area) so they can drum better... but his strokes are crazy, and i like his ending
Dang... First of all, were those really flam taps??? Second, did the stick get stuck in the ceiling? I heard a thud...and didn't see the stick fall =/.
seriously... you can hear the crack when it sticks into the ceiling... ive gotten it stuck messing up the visual cause i hit it too hard... i was wating to catch it, and it didnt come down, im standing there playing the rt hand rhythm with a look of bewilderment
![DCI I&E 2007 - Noel Alvarez [Snare Champion]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mQK7s8cQa0k/mqdefault.jpg)
Still the gnarliest solo I've ever seen. Niko remains the GOAT 🐐
Niko! Now that I watch this, I can hear elements of his writing style- certain patterns that he incorporates into our shows. We're lucky to have him as our battery instructor (:
sister had him as an instructor at ocean view high school. Gave me my first pair of drumsticks. oh yeah and i remember he broke a light with the stick at the end.
I remember watching this as a 9th...maybe a 10th grader? I'm about to be 29. Never fucking fails to impress me. Especially the last 30 seconds
i loved his transition from double strokes to single strokes, so smooth!
Watched this video years ago, and then yesterday I just casually met this dude at a high school band competition
Small world
Love the transitions between grandmas/flam-taps - great control on the sticking reversals :D
I think that is one of the best, most complicated solos ever done for I & E! Amazing!
i cant stop clicking to 3:48. it's just so freaking awesome i have to watch it over and over and over and over and over again
no mameeeeeeeesssss es de lo mas chingon que he visto
I wish you the best of luck. it's always good to see more drummers in the world. And niko is my bro's drum instructor as our school. Best guy out there! You'd be soooo happy to have him as an instructor
the last hit was the ceiling not the snare.. BAD ASSS!
not only is he amazing, he's an awesome guy.
This is an incredible solo! Definitely one of my favorites of all-time. What happened to the stick at the end, he hit up, but you don't see it come down?
It got stuck in the ceiling bc he’s goated
Great understanding of the rudaments.Loved it.
I love his stick heights, their practically perfectly coordinated with eachother.
Your so right!! WOW that was fantastic.
man i love the ending
yea thats my instructor, he was the very first dude to go on during the whole I & E competition that year. he's quite good as u can tell lol
Rattatarat tat CLACK
And that's how an epic snare drummer created the black hole-in-a-ceiling :D
Wow, I definitely think that he should have been the winner. I just think he has more exactitude. I like the super clean stroke combinations he does. I don't like how Ivan did so many buzz rolls. I personally do not like buzz rolls. And that ending, (and the part where he hit like behind himself and under his leg) that was so sick!!!!!
this guys solo was sooo good. really entertaining
Blue Devils had a Beast snare line that year...Casey, Niko, and Ivan? snaps.
did anyone else relize that at the end the stick hit the ceiling in time with the beat lol!! BEASTIN
THATS SICK!!!!
what the fuck!!! man that was sick !!! i haven't ever seen somrthing like that he is incedible fast!!
OMG!! Nice quality of sound on the ceiling!
awesome!!!
Haha how did I manage to tumble upon my instructor?
That ending was sick.
that was a freakingly amazing snare solo right there, don't care who you are!!!
LOL @ the end of his solo. HAHAHA. Awesome.
thx alot dude u saved da day
ahh Niko is so freaking awesome, hes the drum instructor for my high school. Western High School
he reminds us of Quagmire
ending was freaking awesome!!! holy poop
Last part was awsome.
so glad to say he's my drumline teacher. he's too RAD :D
Love the ending like none other!
thw ending is FRESH as can b......
Fucking sweet!!! Dude, I can't wait for Atlanta, I'm gonna be watching the Blue Devils, and a ton of other drum corps in July in August, damn, I love the finish!
An amazing solo -- really enjoyed the use of traditional rudiments.
amen my friend. AMEN!
Niko is my Marching Band's drum instructor. He's pretty fricken sweet :D
wow! i have never heard anything close to this!
This was a pretty awesome solo. I liked the morphs from one rhythm to the next
I love this guy i think he should have won
Hes awsome and crazy finish
love the buzz roll part
did anyone else notice that he sounds like he's still going through puberty? im loving those epic flam taps btw ^_^
Actually, I think he got 3rd or something. If I remember correctly, his stick tick at the end docked him points (hello ceiling) and helped Pacheco take the lead.
HOLY CRAP UR AMAZING
the edge has such a distinct sound compared to the center on those drums
yea the judge thought he was too open on that part, but he was actually opening it up on purpose in order to change up the rudiments without playing a check before it.
niko is so coool
thats amazing
Just saw this guy today at Impulse, he's the percussion captain.
that was sick
beastly ending.
The trajectory made it fly past the camera's view. I like to imagine it stuck up there :p
Awesome. Totally awesome.
Not only should he have gotten 1st, I would put this ahead of all the other solos I've seen online (Casey Brohard, Ivan Pacheco, Jeff Queen, etc.)
i would too if i could play that well.
he actually got docked on the 3:00 mark of his solo when he changed meter and mixed up different rudiments together. the judge didnt understand it
I love the phasing!!!!!
holy shit, them flam taps!
3:53 DA BEST ENDING!!!
LOL that finish is hilarious!
Hell yeah!!!
i tried watching both videos at the same time and my internet crashed.... lol
are you from connecticut or does he still reside in california?
dude, that was amazing, ur hands are like lightning!!
3:52 did the drumstick stick in the ceiling? 😂
he was my teacher too, awesome guy and an amazing drummer.
close ur eyes when u listen to this solo, the sound quality is ridiculous and often overlooked
Its 2015...and who here has had Niko as an Instructor? i marched for him 2007-2011. what about yall? :) and where from if you dont mind me asking. :)
He's a drum instructor at South Torrance High School.
+Riley Arst niiiiiiiiice :) you go there?
+David Rodriguez Yes I do. You've ever heard of the school?
+Riley Arst im sure i have. Niko is freaken awesome.
+David Rodriguez Gold 2015! Awesome Instructor!
o my good! this is greath! lots of tecnic.
the ending = EPIC WIN!
rat tat tat TAT! .....CLUNK right into the ceiling
i agree, way cleaner, more challenging, still as showy, I especially like this rudiment transformation segments
not human!
lol that ending was great
Jesus, he's got great hands.
i love dynasty drums best out there
wow..!
that was nice
i think they are wearing special shirts, that have clearing near their under shoulder (armpit area) so they can drum better... but his strokes are crazy, and i like his ending
those morphs towards the end are fuckin sick
Niko's the battery instructor at my school, he's a great guy, and the stuff he writes isn't half bad either.
Dang...
First of all, were those really flam taps??? Second, did the stick get stuck in the ceiling? I heard a thud...and didn't see the stick fall =/.
awesome, real tallent
Wow...best ending ever.
I can see this guy likes rudimental morphs.
that was fucking INSANE!!!!!! =DDDDD
Dude he's my instructor too he's pretty awesome.
in one part of the vid he goes into match grip is allowed to do that?
seriously... you can hear the crack when it sticks into the ceiling... ive gotten it stuck messing up the visual cause i hit it too hard... i was wating to catch it, and it didnt come down, im standing there playing the rt hand rhythm with a look of bewilderment
SWEET ROLL QUALITY DUDE.
hmm at around 2:55, are those REALLY flam taps? It just sounds like a buzz/press/crush roll...idk if its humanly possible to play flam taps that fast!
WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would kill for a three day clinic with him...
Beast
actually the stick got stuck or seemed to get stuck in the ceiling. apparently what one of my friends said.
absolutley amazin best eva endin ayone no wat type of skin dat is on da drum ??
did the stick get stuck in the ceiling?